NEW DELHI, May 15: Indian hockey legend Leslie Walter Claudius says cricket has acted like an “atom bomb” and crushed all other sports in the country, including his favourite game that is now in a “miserable” state.

A former India captain and versatile right-half who won three gold medals and a silver medal at Olympics Games between 1948 and 1960, he also blamed introduction of Astroturf and increasing global competitions as reasons for India's fall from grace.

“I don't think we actually have talent. Cricket has come like an atom bomb and squashed all other sports. Since birth of Astroturf (in early 1970s) all European countries started playing hockey. In our days, there was only Olympics Games.

Nowadays, see how many tournaments they play,” Claudius, now 79, said.

Claudius, who also served as national selector and manager of Indian team, said mastering the game of hockey needed a lot of practice. He said not many children were taking the game now.

“You can play cricket easily. But to get 12 boys and 12 hockey sticks looks next to impossible. You learn sport in backyard. Today, nobody cares (about hockey).”

On rule changes in the game that have largely not suited Indian classical style, he said they had been made to attract crowds to fields. These are made to make Astroturf hockey a little more exciting, as when it started, it was defence-oriented, he added.

“These off-side rules etc. are there to give opportunities for scoring. When you score goals it becomes more exciting and you get more people to come and witness matches.”

Claudius said India dominated world hockey in most of 20th century as there was no competition.—PPI